TITLE: Family Physician – Dadzi Wellness Centre – (Successful applicants may also indicate if they wish to be considered for a 0.2 FTE medical lead)

LOCATION:  Fort St. James, BC

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Contract from 0.2 FTE up to a 1.0 FTE – typically 1680 hours a year per 1.0 FTE

COMPENSATION: Physician Master Agreement Full Scope range placement of $302,113- $377,641 subject to whether scope of services includes facility-based coverage. Additional Rural Retention Program Premium of 22.82%. Compensation is scaled to Full Time Equivalent. Other Incentives may apply based on eligibility. Family Physicians are not required to make a contribution towards overhead.

About the Centre

Welcome to the Dadzi* Wellness Centre! We are a groundbreaking, standalone First Nations primary care facility located in Fort St. James in north central British Columbia. This Centre serves the region of the Nak’azdli Whut’en, Binche Whut’en and Tl’azt’en First Nation (Dakelh people).   Fort St James is located on Stuart Lake in close proximity of five First Nations communities with a population of 5000 diverse community members. It is a vast and remote area, known for its natural beauty and rich natural resources. 

The Dadzi Wellness Centre services are designed to provide wraparound, team-based primary care, mental health and traditional wellness services. It is expected that the centre will initially operate Monday to Friday (excluding Statutory Holidays) during regular business hours (this may change over time due to operational needs). 

*Dadzi means loon in the Carrier language. The loon is one of the main bird species in the traditional territory. Local legend describes the loon as a source of wellness.

FNPCI Initiative

The First Nations-led Primary Care Initiative (FNPCI) aims to improve access to primary health-care services for First Nations people across BC in a way that is culturally safe and closer to home. The FNPCI is part of the province’s primary care strategy, which is integrating team-based care in communities throughout B.C. and changing the way primary care is delivered with the creation of primary care networks in partnership with the Regional Health Authorities.

In order to meet the health and wellness needs of First Nations people, it is very important that primary care be culturally informed where Indigenous ways of knowing and being are woven into services. 

One of the main objectives of the FNPCI is to develop new First Nations Primary Health Care Centres in rural and urban locations across the province. The centres will provide access to quality primary health care services for First Nations people and their families. The aim is for clients to feel welcomed, valued, respected and heard when they access care services at one of these centres.

About the Role

The Family Physician will be the most responsible provider for a patient panel but is expected to collaborate in team based care for patients, and support the practice of Western and Traditional Wellness approaches to patient health. A minimum panel size is typically expected to reach 650 per 1.0 FTE by year 3, and will be confirmed in the clinical service contract.

Responsibilities

The Family Physician (GP) will be responsible for practicing with cultural humility, to provide primary care in a culturally safe, team-based environment that recognizes the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the client (and family) to provide whole person care, in compliance with policies and procedures of acceptable BC health and wellness regulations and standards.

About you

• You are passionate about supporting First Nations individuals and families on their health and wellness journeys; 
• You have an active practicing license in good standing with the College of Physicians of BC (CPSBC);
• You have training in Cultural Safety & Humility or are willing to take this training; 
• Ideally you have experience working with First Nations people and communities and providing culturally safe care.
• Current valid driving license and willingness to travel throughout the region. 

Why Work at Dadzi Wellness Centre

• We have a common foundation at FNHA through our Vision and Seven Directives to guide us in our daily work.
• What happens to communities and people we serve happens to us—we care for and respect one another. What happens to us happens to community and the people we serve—we strive for excellence and believe First Nations deserve the best we have to offer.
• We are wellness champions. We have the historic opportunity to achieve transformative change in First Nations health & wellness, and an obligation to make the most of this opportunity.
• We are for change makers. Those who are called to act, open to cultural understanding and teachings, and undaunted by unique challenges. We are a young organization, still growing and fast changing.
• We provide meaningful work rich with transformational learning opportunities.
• When you work at the Dadzi Wellness Centre, you will truly make a difference in your life and for many others.
• Find purpose beyond your profession. “It starts with me”. Here, your work changes lives, starting with your own.
• We work together, not apart, with our beautiful and culturally rich First Nations communities in British Columbia.

First Nations Health Authority is a first of its kind in Canada and joining our family means being part of a collaborative, diverse and compassionate organization committed to innovating, transforming and redesigning health service delivery for First Nations communities in BC. Leading with culture, all FNHA medical staff are encouraged to continue with their cultural safety and humility learning and engagement activities. A range of relevant courses are available to medical staff who will complete at least one within the first year of joining FNHA.

How to apply

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please email your CV to medical.affairs@fnha.ca.

Anticipated Hire Date: As soon as possible